Galatians 6:1-5 – Who’s Burden Do We Bear?
Is the Bible filled with contradictions? Some might answer the question in the affirmative. They may even provide a long list of examples illustrating these apparent contradictions. For instance, they will point out that Paul writes, “Bear one another’s burdens,” (Gal. 6:2),1 but then a few lines later states, “For each one will bear his own load” (Gal. 6:5), and then ask, "Do we bear one another’s burden or do we bear our own burden?"
The solution to the problem is this: Context; Context; Context! The problem is in fixating upon the bits and pieces of the text, like a verse, phrase, or word, and ignoring the surrounding context.
It is unlikely that Paul in Galatians 6:1-5 would say one thing then completely contradict himself in the same paragraph. Paul’s point is that a person should be mindful in caring for the spiritual well-being of both another person and himself. Verse 1 is an exhortation to help restore a fellow brother who has fallen in sin with gentleness, while at the same time keeping one self from falling into the same sin. The principle is that we are to “bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (v. 2). The Galatians were also warned against thinking they were beyond failure (v. 5). Instead, each person was to examine his own life, the principle being “each one will bear his own load.” Galatians 6:2 does not contradict Galatians 6:5, since the later verse is a subset of the former verse.
Bear one another’s burdens means we are to look out for the spiritual well-being of both the self and others, and bearing one’s own load highlights the importance of self-examination in light of the responsibility of caring for the spiritual well being of others.
1. All Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1995)
The solution to the problem is this: Context; Context; Context! The problem is in fixating upon the bits and pieces of the text, like a verse, phrase, or word, and ignoring the surrounding context.
It is unlikely that Paul in Galatians 6:1-5 would say one thing then completely contradict himself in the same paragraph. Paul’s point is that a person should be mindful in caring for the spiritual well-being of both another person and himself. Verse 1 is an exhortation to help restore a fellow brother who has fallen in sin with gentleness, while at the same time keeping one self from falling into the same sin. The principle is that we are to “bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (v. 2). The Galatians were also warned against thinking they were beyond failure (v. 5). Instead, each person was to examine his own life, the principle being “each one will bear his own load.” Galatians 6:2 does not contradict Galatians 6:5, since the later verse is a subset of the former verse.
Bear one another’s burdens means we are to look out for the spiritual well-being of both the self and others, and bearing one’s own load highlights the importance of self-examination in light of the responsibility of caring for the spiritual well being of others.
1. All Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1995)
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